African slaves in Britian 

Africans for the use of slavery were documented in the United Kingdom as early as 1570’s. During this time period Slaves usually fell into a few different roles many served as household servants that were required to take care of  a family's daily needs. Such as cooking,cleaning, taking care of the white aristocratic women's children. While others were forced into prostitution for the well to do men in British society often becoming the masters mistress and sometimes baring children. The slavery that dominated British society did not mirror the slavery in the new colonies but that did not mean that slavery in Britain was not brutal. 

       Many aristocratic women in British society were very avid fashion enthusiasts and when have a slave came into fashion they were one of the first people to take part. But it was not the slavery that usually comes to mind in people in chains and rags. The slaves that these women kept were more of the status of a pet or of a derivative item that is bought to show off wealth. These slaves were often dressed up in expensive costumes and shown off at parties or gatherings of other aristocratic members of society. Many of these women often owned African children that were considered the most show of wealth.

                          (A fashionable women with her child servant)

      Many other slaves were just used as household servants and cooks, these slaves were in charge of all the families needs. They would cook each meal and clean also often they would be used as nannies and wet nurses of the children of the wealthy white family that owned them. These women raised and took care of the whole family often having close relationships to the children, often closer to the children than  the parents due to the parents letting the slaves do all the "messy" raising of the children.

                        (A slave women in the background with a white family)

         Many male slaves  were often purchased by government officials, planters, and military personnel. These captured Africans were thought of as companions that would provided friendship and fight off loneliness of long travel time on the ships that crossed the seas for these officials. This is very different picture of slavery then most would imagine, these slaves were bought assistance's, and compaions to these wealthy British men. These slaves would learn navigation and other useful skills through accompining their masters on these long voyages.

      During queen Elizabeth the first's rule there were such a large population of Africans that in the year of 1596 that she ruled that all Africans expelled from the United Kingdom; she feared that the Africans were taking jobs away from the white British and that they were plotting and insurrection. This decree from Elizabeth brought no action, slaves were already an integral part of society and culture in the United Kingdom.

"To be sold, a Negro boy age about fourteen years old, warranted free from any distemper, and has had those fatal to that colour; has been used two years to all kinds of household work, and to wait on table; his price is £25, and would not be sold but the person he belongs to is leaving off business. Apply at the bar of George Coffee House in Chancery Lane, over the Gate. [1756}(Black People in Britain)"